Parenting in Japan 広島親子

Fun January Events for Kids in Hiroshima

2011-12-19T14:09:00.001+09:00

A lot of things are closed all over Japan as families gather together celebrating the passing of another year. There are some great ways to enjoy this family time in Hiroshima if you are hanging around. January 1st New Year's Day It is the Japanese tradition to visit a Shrine on New Year's day to pray for another good year in life. Even if you are not Japanese and do not know anything about

Japanese Encephalitis in Japan

2011-12-06T15:56:00.001+09:00

According to the CDC, Japanese Encephalitis (日本脳炎, Nihon-nōen) is a problem for all areas of Asia, especially if people are around pigs or birds in water and recommended for all travelers who will reside in rural areas in Asia for longer than 1 year. According to the local ward office staff and our local pediatrician, there were a few cases in the Chugoku area again this year. The Japanese

Christmas Present Drive for Tohoku Kids

2011-12-04T20:17:00.001+09:00

Photos of Rikuzen Takata Devastation @Ikuru Kuwajima Let’s bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the children of Rikuzentakata, Tohoku! This area was particularly hard hit by this year's Tsunami devastation on March 11, 2011. The children in the area would be so encouraged and excited to receive a Christmas present to raise their spirits. The volunteer group, "Aki-Rikuzentakata Dream Support

Playdate at Hiroshima Transportation Museum 12/4/2011

2011-11-25T08:43:00.001+09:00

Hiroshima Transporation Museum We are planning to have the next HIP get-together -first Sunday of December- at the transport museum in Asa-minami ku- we will be there from 10-12 and then be going somewhere nearby to get some lunch. Hope to see you there! Information : http://www.vehicle.city.hiroshima.jp/ Access: By Astram: Take the Astram bound for Koiki Koen Mae and get off at

GetHiroshima Family Christmas Party

2011-11-08T08:32:00.000+09:00

Once again this year we are organizing a family-friendly Christmas party on Friday, December 23rd (National Holiday) from 12 noon-4pm Many people make a break at Christmas time to head home to be with family, but we will be here this year so we will be putting together a GetHiroshima Kids & Family Christmas party at Southern Cross on the national holiday- December 23rd, 2010 from 12pm to 4pm.**

Growing up doesn't necessarily make you any better at stuff...

2011-11-08T07:18:00.000+09:00

This morning as I rip the milk carton for the millionth time in my life as I try to open it and end up once again looking for the butter knife to stick into the half-ripped-off end to retain some semblance of a pouring function- I am reminded that despite my years I am still no expert at this. I see my kids struggling with stuff as they are growing up and I tell them it gets easier the more

Video and Pictures of 10/31/2011 GetHiroshima Kids Halloween Party

2011-11-01T14:12:00.002+09:00

Thank you to everyone who came out on Halloween night - it was a lot of fun! Next year we will plan to do the party again on the last Sunday of October in Sorazaya park, please join us! GetHiroshima Family Halloween Party in Sorazaya Park 10/31, a set on Flickr.Thanks for everyone who made it out to the park on the 31st despite it being a school and work night! We played some games, ate

GetHiroshima Family Halloween Party in the Park

2011-10-04T16:58:00.011+09:00

** 10/30 sorry we had to cancel today (Sunday) because of the weather- please join us on Halloween afternoon 10/31 in the same place (Sorazaya-koen) from 4:30 for some games, costume parade, snack potluck and family fun ** Activities apples on strings..... walk the plank (balance game).... bouncy pumpkin race... bashing pinatas.... spooky ring toss.... treasure hunt ..... spooky snacks to eat ..

Great Halloween Party Games, Lessons and Craft Ideas

2011-10-01T08:39:00.000+09:00

Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, time to get planning for fun parties and lessons. Here are some great resources and ideas to get your inspired for your classes and spooky get-togethers this year. This website- Supersimplesongs.com has lots of fun games and activities to enjoy at Kids Halloween parties and for special Halloween lessons. I love this "Walk the Plank" game (which you will see

October 2nd Playdate at the Miyajima Aquarium

2011-09-16T06:20:00.000+09:00

Miyajima's Aquarium has had a facelift and has recently reopened:http://www.miyajima-aqua.jp/ In October, they also have a "Trick Art: magic painting" exhibition which looks really fun to take pictures with while we are there- you can make it look like a shark is jumping out to bite you :) We will plan to arrive at the Aquarium by 10am (doors open at 9am if you want to go earlier) - we will

UNICEF update: 12,000 fewer children perish daily in 2010 than in 1990

2011-09-16T04:05:00.001+09:00

Received a wonderful update from UNICEF in the following article, there has been some progress made but there is still so many children dying around the globe from problems which are completely treatable. If you can, donate to UNICEF to further help their efforts to help the world's most vulnerable people. NEW YORK/GENEVA, 15 September 2011 – The number of children under five years of age

2011-08-15T17:40:00.000+09:00

It has been 5 months now since the March 11th Earthquake and Tsunami that wiped out many homes, communities and infrastructure in the Tohoku area of Northern Japan. As the search for loved ones has ended and the weekend of Obon and remembering the many dead and lost has passed, it is time for many organisations to move onto how to help the living. One of the most vulnerable groups are the

Child Supermodels- Exploited or Living the Dream?

2011-08-14T10:42:00.003+09:00

Love the Funny Face Today's Times had an article on whether the fashion industry has overstepped by hiring a 10 year old supermodel, but is it so different than what has been going on for many years? Is this really something new? We have always had kids as movie stars- Drew Barrymore was super cute in ET at the age of 4, it was probably a lot less glamorous then being dressed up in

Elementary school in America- Rules, Regulations and Safety

2011-07-28T05:15:00.002+09:00

Japanese Elementary School Classroom Having grown up in the states myself, now raising our kids going to Japanese public schools, I never realized until now how completely different the two systems really are. Yesterday was registration day and setting our kid up with his supplies in his classroom. It was a fun, albeit hectic, day of running around looking for all the supplies on the list. A

Problems with English Curriculum in Japanese schools

2011-07-22T07:57:00.002+09:00

Our 3 grade elementary kid has come home with his ローマ字の表 Romanji (Roman letters) Study Chart as they are going to start learning English in the second semester. Working with high school and university students for many years, I see so many students who cannot spell unfamiliar words or even sound them out when reading. This is, I have concluded once seeing the textbooks and observed classes, due

Cold Noodle Fun in Summer

2011-07-05T10:52:00.000+09:00

In Japan, there is a great culture of eating a variety of noodles cold in the hot, summer months- which of course kids adore, are fun to eat and are also usually meat-free meals. Zaru-Soba @art4.photozou.jp Zaru-soba ざるそば The brown buckwheat noodles are cool and delicious, served in layers in a box on a bamboo mat and if you order the large portion "Omori" then you will have another layer of

Today at PIIC & Upcoming Playdates

2011-07-03T08:18:00.001+09:00

PIIC Well meet at the 1st floor of the PIIC center in Ushita for our usualy play and potluck without the park play today since it is so rainy, hope you can join us! We'll be there from around 11:30 to have some indoor play, watch a movie and share some food (maybe get a nice coffee upstairs too) --------------- Tsutsumigaura Beach The next playdate won't be till October as we are busy on

5/1 & 6/5 & 7/3 Playdates & upcoming HIP get-togethers

2011-05-15T14:00:00.005+09:00

July 3rd is the last time we will be meeting in Ushita at the park and then at the PIIC language center. Join us on August 7th at Miyajima near the beach for the SunDance festival if you are free) There is no get together in September. October 2nd (1st Sunday) - we'll be meeting at the Asa Zoo, please join us if you can. October 30th (Sunday) we will also get together for a costume party in the

HIP: Hiroshima International Play Group

2011-05-14T14:09:00.000+09:00

HIP: Hiroshima International Play Group, a set on Flickr.So many fun get togethers for the kids and families who come from near and far and speak Japanese, English, Spanish and a mix of many other wonderful languages. Please feel free to join us whenever you are free for our regular get-togethers on the 1st Sunday of the month, or for Halloween and Christmas parties.

Crying Over Spilt Milk- My battle with the Japanese School Milk Rule

2011-05-11T20:16:00.004+09:00

Mitaki Oyako Statue ...and the monster parent is back... well I can't help but worry about that sometimes. Couldn't I just keep quiet and make it easier for the teachers, staff and school board to go about their day as usual? Honestly, I try not to interfere, being a teacher myself I know they are doing their best, but when kids safety is on the line... I just can't keep quiet. While I was

April Playdate:Hanami & Egg Hunt Slideshow

2011-04-03T17:46:00.004+09:00

Thanks to everyone who came today, it was a lot of fun! We will continue meeting the first Sunday of the month for the rest of the year, check this blog for place and time updates- hope to see you again soon!

Raising Questions about Radiation Effect in Japan

2011-04-01T10:21:00.001+09:00

Trying to find clear and detailed information on the radiation threat in Japan is rather difficult, but the fact that there is a threat at all should make residents think of its consequences. The most worrying news in the last 10 days: The reactor cannot be cooled and is leaking highly contaminated water into the sea, soil and water of the surrounding area. Radiation has been detected as far as

Parenting Lessons From A Fierce Tiger Mother

2011-03-27T08:56:00.000+09:00

Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" was originally reviewed negatively based on exerts from the book; taken out of context they sound horrendous, arrogant and basically like the worst kind of parenting you can imagine. If you read the book as an entire entity however, you are given a very honest, human perspective on parenting across cultures that is illuminating and interesting. She

April Playdate and Easter-Egg hunt in Senda-Park: 1st Sunday 4/3 (11-2)

2011-03-25T14:53:00.000+09:00

View Larger Map We will be meeting at the back (tree side) of the big roller slides at Senda park (next to the Naka-ku sports center) on April 3rd from 11-2 for an outdoor playdate we hope mother nature smiles on and gives us some sunshine for :-) Join us and bring little plastic bags of goodies to hide for an easter goodies hunt after lunch (if you have decorated eggs too- bring them along).

Getting our Heads Around the Earthquake, Tsunami & Nuclear Threat in Japan

2011-03-18T16:09:00.004+09:00

(* update 3/20) 3/20-21 Bring your donations to the Mazda stadium and pass them on yourself- Hiroshima city and prefectural governments are organizing the collection of emergency supplies to be sent to the quake effected areas in the north. In Hiroshima city the collection point is Mazda Stadium (Sunday, March 20 - Tuesday, March 22). People elsewhere in the prefecture can take supplies to